MOTOGP >>> nEWs
MARQUEZ DOMINATES AS
NEW BIKES HIT THE TRACK
The official 2014 season began the day after the flag
fell for the final round of 2013 – with several riders
sampling new bikes, but a familiar name at the top of
the time-sheets. It was Marc Marquez.
The champion was on top by a third of a second, with
his fastest run on the third day, after giving the first of
the three a miss, riding the 2014 prototype, using HRC
software with the new control Magneti Marelli ECU
hardware.
His time of 1’30.287 was within five hundredths of his
pole time for the race.
“The important thing is we collected a lot data for Honda
to work on over the winter” he said, before returning
home finally to celebrate his landmark victory.
Bradley Smith was a surprise second overall, using the
2013 factory tank-seat combination and finding it much
to his liking. “It really suited my style,” he said. Monster
Yamaha team-mate Crutchlow had been given the revised
weight distribution after the summer break, but had never
got on with it.
Lorenzo headed the first day, but went home after the
second, with not much to test – he ended up third-fastest;
from Stefan Bradl, Dani Pedrosa and Alvaro Bautista.
Rossi was seventh-fastest, working with his new crew
chief Silvano Galbusera, and the first rider a full second
slower than Marquez. He also missed day three.
Less than two-tenths slower, Pol Espargaro made his
acquaintance with MotoGP with three impressive days on
a Tech 3 machine. Next year he will join Smith in the team
in place of Crutchlow, making for strong rivalry between
the two.
His brother Aleix was making his debut on the leaded
Yamaha for the NGM For ward team, still awaiting its
full FTR chassis. He was two places lower, the brothers
sandwiching top Ducati runner Iannone.
There were two of the new RCV1000R production-racer
Hondas for three riders, and they placed lower down the
order: Hayden the best in 14th, with Aspar team-mate
Aoyama next. Redding, still injured, was 20th after also
missing day three.
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GPWEEK.com //
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